Seven talking points ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix

Verstappen has one goal

He’s a straightforward man in many ways, is Max Verstappen – and after a difficult couple of months, expect the triple world champion to have cut out the noise, reset himself for the run-in and return focused only on one prize: to secure his fourth consecutive world championship.

The 26-year-old is too long in the tooth to take anything for granted, although with a 78-point lead over Lando Norris – the only driver with a realistic hope of defeating him – Verstappen will know only a dramatic turn of events stands between him and his goal.

But it’s been five races since Verstappen last scored a victory. That was Spain back on the 23^rd June – an age given Red Bull’s dominance over the past couple of seasons. The familiar old petulance and lack of patience with anything other than perfection from his team reared its head before the break, particularly in Hungary where his temper tantrums bordered on contempt for his colleagues.

So, which Verstappen will turn up for his home race this weekend? He’s never lost at Zandvoort in F1. But given the revival at McLaren and more unexpectedly at Mercedes, he’ll likely be tested come Sunday. How he responds to any threat and another potential defeat will set the tone for what could be a bumpy season run-in – despite that healthy points lead.

Questions for Verstappen beyond 2024

Beyond the immediate challenge, questions linger over Verstappen’s future, too. The temptation of joining Mercedes for 2026 and the next big rules reset casts a shadow over his relationship with Red Bull – and primarily Christian Horner. The fractures have been significant in this strangely troubled season for the team, and if the Ford-badged engine project in Milton Keynes isn’t convincing then a sensational team switch might well be more likely than otherwise.

But will it be Mercedes he turns to – or Aston Martin? Lawrence Stroll is a man of soaring ambition and resource. He will also have Honda engines in 2026 – and perhaps Adrian Newey, if the designer really is set to go green as rumours persist.

As we’ve said, Verstappen needs to cut out the noise to focus on the job in hand. But that’s easier said than done in the current circumstances. So, we wonder, how crucial might Newey’s decision on his future prove for Verstappen’s own destiny?

McLaren eyes constructors’ title

Norris will need a remarkable run – and to cut out the errors – if he is to stand any hope of challenging Verstappen. But in the constructors’ championship, McLaren’s target should be considered much more realistic. Just 42 points lie between the team and Red Bull. The champions have reiterated their faith in Sergio Pérez (for now) to score the points it needs for another teams’ title, but Norris and Oscar Piastri look a sure bet to at least close that gap. Remarkably, McLaren hasn’t won the constructors’ title since 1998. Might that drought be about to come to an end?

Hamilton closes out his Mercedes career

Just 10 races left for Lewis Hamilton before he makes his sensational switch to Ferrari red. We can fully expect the seven-time champion to stretch every sinew to squeeze every last drop from the coming races and end his time at Mercedes on a high.

He’s won two of the last three races, of course, following a remarkable summer revival from the team. But George Russell will be fired up for retribution in the wake of his heartbreaking disqualification from victory at Spa, where his car came in under the weight limit. Russell has smoked Hamilton in qualifying this year, but the older man still races as sharp as he ever has. How the dynamic between them evolves in the coming weeks could be a point of interest. Generally, they have managed their internal rivalry well, but with Hamilton heading for the exit will that public equilibrium remain stable? The team is 79 points down on Ferrari, so a battle for third in the constructors’ standings looks a long shot. The drivers should be free to race for themselves.

Vasseur’s biggest challenge so far

Ferrari’s season has begun a worrying slide. Carlos Sainz Jr. came out of the blocks at a gallop after it was announced Hamilton would replace him in 2025, then Charles Leclerc finally removed a monkey from his back by scoring an emotional home win in Monaco. But the team’s form has since drifted as McLaren and now Mercedes has knocked it back. Sainz should still be motivated to make the most of a competitive car before he takes a likely drop down the grid with Williams, while Leclerc needs to rally in preparation for Hamilton’s arrival.

Meanwhile, team principal Fred Vasseur – who has been such a steadying hand at the team – might be feeling a little extra heat right now to get the Maranello team back on track, especially with Monza on the horizon. If the red cars can edge into the battles for race wins we might end up with the thrilling four-way fights we all hoped for when the current generation of cars were first introduced in 2022.

Alonso simmers at Aston

Meanwhile at Aston Martin, we await news on Newey. But the team has more pressing matters, too, following a hugely disappointing season so far. Fernando Alonso, now 43, has noticeably kept a lid on his frustrations at the team’s middling form. How will he respond if the team can’t unlock some pace for the run-in? He’s committed to the team which has gained so much from his input. But the clock is ticking, especially if Stroll Sr. really does have an eye on Verstappen for the future. The potential at Aston remains huge – but when will the team start delivering, as it promised to at the start of last year?

RB heads Haas in the bottom half

Beyond Aston’s underwhelming tally of only 73 points, RB and Haas are locked in a fight for sixth, separated by just seven points. Yuki Tsunoda has been one of the drivers of the season so far for our money, while Daniel Ricciardo will continue to look over his shoulder at Liam Lawson. Unless the Aussie can properly rediscover his mojo he’ll likely be replaced by the Kiwi for 2025. And might Tsunoda still have a shot at convincing Red Bull he’s worthy of Perez’s seat for next year?

Meanwhile at Haas, it appears Kevin Magnussen will be running down his F1 career – but the Dane being the Dane, won’t go quietly into the night. And Nico Hülkenberg will press on, with one eye on his next team Sauber and its so far troubled metamorphosis into Audi for 2026. Haas has shown an impressive upturn under new team principal Ayao Komatsu this term, and with millions of dollars on the line for each constructors’ position gained he’ll be sure to keep his current drivers focused on that prized sixth place, before Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman join the team for next season.

So, buckle up. It’s going to be an intense autumn.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.